Russia ready to resume US-Russia-Ukraine talks in mid-November, Putin aide says
In short
Russian presidential aide Ushakov said on 21 October that Putin told US envoy Witkoff in St Petersburg that Russia is willing, in principle, to restart three-way talks with the US and Ukraine in mid-November. Ushakov said the two also discussed a diesel supply agreement, other joint economic projects and Iran, and that Putin pardoned a US citizen, Hubbard.
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Russian presidential aide Ushakov said on 21 October that, during a meeting with US presidential envoy Witkoff in St Petersburg, Putin said Russia is willing to resume three-way Russia-US-Ukraine talks in mid-November. China News Service reported that Putin said Russia is ready in principle, and that the talks would focus on building a security system for Russia and Ukraine after the conflict ends. [ 1 , 4 , 7 ]
According to Ushakov, as reported by China News Service, the talks lasted nearly three hours. Witkoff had met Zelensky and representatives of several European countries, NATO and the EU in Oslo on 20 October, and briefed Putin on those talks. CLS and Jiemian reported Witkoff as saying Europe and Kyiv have a new approach to mediation, though little in it is useful. China News Service said he pointed to some new trends or shifts in the positions of Europe and Ukraine. [ 1 , 4 , 7 ]
Ushakov said the talks built on the 9 October call between the two presidents. He said Putin described the situation on the line of contact and said Russian forces fully hold the strategic initiative. [ 7 ]
On economic matters, Ushakov said the two sides discussed implementing an agreement on supplying Russian diesel to the US and global markets. China News Service reported that real work has started after the US government decided to lift some sanctions on Russian diesel exports, and that other large joint projects, some close to implementation, were also discussed. [ 7 ]
Ushakov also said Putin pardoned US citizen Hubbard, who had been serving a sentence in Russia for mercenary activity, after repeated requests from Trump and several members of his administration. Hubbard was released and handed to the US side at Pulkovo airport. The two also exchanged views on the Middle East, mainly Iran. [ 7 ]
In a later report, China News Service said Zelensky responded that Ukraine supports starting a new round of three-way talks as soon as possible, and that Trump said an end to the conflict has never been so close. It added that some analysts consider the envoy's mediation mostly exploratory and still some distance from formal peace talks. [ 8 ]
Why it matters
If held, the talks would be a new round of the three-way format on Ukraine. One analysis cited by China News Service called the envoy's mediation mostly exploratory and still short of formal peace talks.
Key facts
- Ushakov said on 21 October that Putin told Witkoff Russia is willing to resume three-way Russia-US-Ukraine talks in mid-November. [ 1 , 4 , 7 ]
- China News Service reported that Putin and Witkoff met for nearly three hours, and that Putin said Russia is ready in principle to restart the talks, focusing on a security system for Russia and Ukraine after the conflict ends. [ 7 ]
- On 20 October Witkoff met Ukrainian President Zelensky and representatives of several European countries, NATO and the EU in Oslo. [ 7 ]
- Witkoff said Europe and Kyiv have a new approach to mediation, though there is little useful in it, according to CLS and Jiemian. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Ushakov said Putin pardoned US citizen Hubbard, who was serving a sentence in Russia for mercenary activity, after requests from Trump and members of his administration; Hubbard was handed to the US side at Pulkovo airport. [ 7 ]
- Ushakov said the two sides discussed implementing a Russian diesel supply agreement and other large joint economic projects, some of them close to implementation. [ 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether and when the three-way talks will actually take place. The documents report only Russia's stated readiness for mid-November; Ukraine's and the US's confirmation of a date is not given.
- Putin's claim that Russian forces fully hold the strategic initiative and have struck Ukrainian military, energy and logistics facilities. Reported by China News Service as Putin's account via Ushakov; no other document addresses it.
- How far the envoy's mediation has moved toward formal peace talks. China News Service cited an analysis saying the mediation is mostly exploratory and formal talks are still some way off.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CLS reported Ushakov's statement that Russia is willing to resume three-way talks in mid-November (21 October). [ 1 ]
- Xinhua published a headline saying Russia wants to restart the three-way talks in November. [ 3 ]
- China News Service published its report from Moscow on Ushakov's account of the Putin-Witkoff meeting (22 October). [ 7 ]
- China News Service reported Zelensky's response supporting a new round soon and Trump's remark that an end to the conflict has never been so close (22 October). [ 8 ]